How to find cheap flights to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)
The cheapest price currently available for a one-way flight to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is $700. A round-trip plane ticket to HEL right now is $1,394.
Book when it's best with Price Alerts. You'll receive an email or a push notification on the app if the price of tickets to HEL rises or falls.
Don't leave everything to the last minute. You're more likely to find the best price on tickets to Helsinki, where Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is located, if you book ahead. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.
Click on the 'Add nearby airports' filter and expand your search for cheap flights to Helsinki. This will show you every airport around your departure and destination points.
Consider taking a flight with a stop, as indirect routes often cost less. Simply uncheck the 'Direct flights' box when searching for your plane tickets to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
Best time to go to Helsinki
May is generally the cheapest month to board a flight to Helsinki.
To find the cheapest month or even day for flights to HEL, use the 'Whole month' tool. If your travel dates are flexible, search for the green prices on the calendar — they show you the lowest available fares.
If you'd like to experience Helsinki at its liveliest, lock in your flights to HEL for September. Going on holiday during peak periods typically means more to do and see than at other times of the year.
January is the quietest period of the year to travel if you want a more relaxed pace. There's also a good chance you'll find cheaper prices on plane tickets to Helsinki then.
The weather can make or break a holiday, so consider what type of conditions you prefer to get away in. Helsinki is warmest in July, averaging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
Temperatures are at their lowest in January, when they range from -12ºC (10ºF) to 3ºC (37ºF).
With six days of rain on average, April is the driest month in Helsinki.
The wettest time of year is January. Plan your getaway then and you'll likely get around 11 days of rainfall.
Travelling to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL): What you need to know
Skip the layovers and travel to Helsinki quickly. Book a direct flight to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport with one of these airlines:
Think about booking your HEL plane ticket with Vuelings. It's the most punctual carrier, with up to 100% of flights into this hub sticking to schedule.
HEL is in the UTC+2 timezone.
Slip into bed shortly after your flight to HEL. Book a room at any of these hotels near Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and you'll be fast asleep in no time:
Whether you're transferring to another flight or flying home from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, there's a good chance you'll arrive on time. HEL ranks well for punctuality, with up to 84% of departing flights landing when they're supposed to.
Getting to central Helsinki from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)
The distance from HEL to central Helsinki is about 18 kilometres.
After touching down from your flight to HEL, the drive to the centre takes around 25 minutes.
The ride when using public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
Helsinki has no shortage of places to rest your head. Here's a lineup of comfy hotels to put on your short list:
Helsinki highlights
These popular sights should be on your must-do list after hopping off your flight to Helsinki:
Helsinki Cathedral: Around 0.80 kilometres east of the centre in Kruununhaka, this landmark offers a great first taste of the city.
Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden: You'll discover this park roughly 0.80 kilometres northeast of the centre in Kluuvi. It offers a nice change of pace while exploring Helsinki.
Finnish National Opera and Ballet: Hit up this landmark next. About 2 kilometres north of the city centre in Taka-Töölö, it's also worth a visit to get the full Helsinki experience.
How to get to Espoo from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL)
Going directly to Espoo? From HEL, it takes around 20 minutes to drive there. The city is about 24 kilometres from the airport.
Expect a journey time of 1 hour 10 minutes or so when making your way to Espoo on public transport.
Travelling from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Lahti
If Lahti is where you want to be, public transport should take around 1 hour 30 minutes from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. This city is about 80 kilometres from HEL.
Going there by car takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Explore more of Finland
There's loads more of Finland waiting to be explored. About 21 kilometres southwest of Helsinki, head for Espoo. On the must-do list? Begin with Nuuksio Park, Nuuksio National Park and EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art.
Tampere is another standout destination in Finland and is roughly 145 kilometres northwest of Helsinki. Zero in on some of the best places like Pyynikki Observation Tower, The Natural History Museum and Pyynikki Nature Reserve. Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP) takes care of most arrivals into this city.
About 3 kilometres southeast of Helsinki, Vantaa makes for a memorable detour. Top reasons to go include Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre, Fazer Visitor Centre and Helsinki Airport Observation Deck.